More on massacres

Those Bodies in Baghdad Are of Gay Men

IPS reports (March 16^th): Dozens of bodies bludgeoned to death pop up in Baghdad’s dusty streets like the remains of a wreckage on a beach. They are the corpses of homosexuals and followers of the ‘emo’ fashion who dare to break with the strict canons of the Shia orthodoxy in power.

"They crushed his head with a concrete block. His name was Saif Asmar and he was a close friend of mine; tomorrow it could be me".

Ruby (fake name) can hardly cope with his anger and fear as he holds a photo of his friend, barely recognisable after the brutal murder. Since the beginning of the year, death squads have been targeting gay men as well as those who dress in a distinctive Western-influenced style called ‘emo’.

http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=107093

Investigate ‘Emo’ Attacks

Amnesty International reports (March 16^th): The government of Iraq should immediately investigate and bring to justice those responsible for a targeted campaign of intimidation and violence against Iraqi youth seen as belonging to the non-conformist “emo” subculture, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission said today. The attacks have created an atmosphere of terror among those who see themselves as potential victims.

On March 8, 2012, the Interior Ministry, in an official statement, dismissed reports by local activists and media of a campaign against those seen as emo. The ministry said the reports were “fabricated” and “groundless,” and that it would take action against people who were trying “to highlight this issue and build it out of proportion.” An official ministry statement, on February 13, that characterized emo culture as “Satanist” cast doubt on the government’s willingness to protect vulnerable youth, the international rights groups said.

http://www.amnesty.org/en/for-media/press-releases/iraq-investigate-emo-attacks-2012-03-16

Gay people in Iraq killed

There have been a large number of press reports this week about a huge spike in the number of killings of gay people in Iraq. Here is one:


Up to 100 killed in Iraq gay and emo massacre

Gay Star News reports (March 12th):  Activists and Iraqi media are reporting that up to 100 people have been killed in massacres targeting Iraqis who use alternative dress codes or have differing sexualities.
Since 6 February there have been continuous reports of militia targeting youths which focus on attacks, kidnapping, torture and murder of ‘emo’ youth and individuals perceived as gay, lesbian or trans.
It appears that attacks have been taking place in Baghdad as well as in several in southern provinces.

http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/100-killed-iraq-gay-and-emo-massacre090312

Iraq MPs criticised over costly armoured cars

Middle Easy Online reports (February 28^th): The decision of MPs to spend $50 million on their own armoured cars on a day that dozens of people were killed in a wave of attacks has drawn sharp criticism from across Iraqi society.

In addition to the armoured cars, MPs already receive a budget allocation for 30 bodyguards, but officials claim that most only appoint a handful of guards and pocket the remainder of the allotted funds.

Iraqi MPs already receive monthly salaries of $8,500, generous pension benefits, plots of land and diplomatic passports.

http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=50894